When Teresa and Jimmy’s son Oliver was born with esophageal atresia, a rare condition where the esophagus is not connected to the stomach, their world shifted instantly. Just a few hours old, tiny Oliver underwent surgery on his very first day of life.
A Scary Start
Teresa knew something was wrong long before Oliver was born. At her 20-week anatomy scan, doctors noticed signs that his esophagus wasn’t attached. From that moment on, the Teresa and Jimmy prepared for a complex medical journey and made the decision to transfer to HCA HealthONE Rocky Mountain Children’s, where Oliver could receive care in a Level IV NICU with specialized pediatric surgeons.
Oliver’s condition meant he wasn’t swallowing enough amniotic fluid, and Teresa needed an amniotic reduction late in pregnancy. It began as a routine procedure, but shifted suddenly and the room filled with doctors and nurses. Oliver’s heart rate was dropping. Teresa needed to deliver immediately, and she was rushed into an emergency C-section.
Oliver spent his first 28 days in the NICU before finally going home. Things were finally starting to settle down a little bit, but then Teresa experienced every parent’s worst nightmare—just three weeks after coming home, Oliver’s breathing stopped. She performed CPR until paramedics arrived and they rushed him to the hospital.
There, the care team discovered that on top of his esophageal atresia, Oliver had an abnormal connection between his trachea and esophagus, making breathing hard and recovering from even mild illnesses extremely difficult. He was breathing again, but these complications would mean multiple week-long hospitalizations in the months to come.
A Family Under Strain
While Oliver’s medical team worked tirelessly to care for him, Teresa and Jimmy were struggling to hold the rest of their lives together. One of Oliver’s hospitalizations happened during a time when the family was already falling behind on bills, and the added financial burden became overwhelming.
“There was a time when we were really struggling to get bills paid,” Teresa said. “I was so worried about what was going on at home that I couldn’t really focus on Oliver.”
That’s when the hospital’s social worker, Jami, reached out to Rocky Mountain Children’s Health Foundation (RMCHF). Through donor-supported programs, RMCHF stepped in to cover the family’s water bill.
“Just having that one bill paid and not having to worry about it was the biggest relief,” Teresa shared. “I could focus on my son. I could focus on myself. And I didn’t have to worry about something going wrong for my kids at home.”
Through programs like Patient and Family Assistance, RMCHF provides families with support for rent, utilities, food, gas cards, and essentials—ensuring parents can stay present during the most traumatic moments of their children’s lives.
“My job would be a lot harder without Rocky Mountain Children’s Health Foundation,” said Shandra, Oliver’s outpatient social worker. “They help families overcome barriers so kids can get the care they need.”
A Story of Strength and Support
For the Opel family, the journey hasn’t been easy. But they’ve never been alone.
“I feel like there’s a whole village behind us,” Teresa said. “We are so lucky for the support we’ve had.”
Thanks to compassionate healthcare providers and the generosity of RMCHF’s donor community, Oliver continues to grow, smile, and brighten every room he enters.
“He has this light-up-the-room smile,” said pediatric nurse Annie, one of the many caregivers who bonded instantly with Oliver and his family. “It warms your heart… he trusts you, and he truly loves being around the staff.”
You can make a difference for children like Oliver by making a gift to Rocky Mountain Children’s Health Foundation. Your support means that these families don’t have to face their child’s medical journey alone.
